A great night, but also a sad one. I have seen Duncan Reid and the Big Heads many times since I first saw them nearly ten years ago at Buffalo Bar in Highbury. There have been some lineup changes along the way, but Duncan has always had a really good band. And also some interesting guests popping up here and there - including ex-Hollywood Brats frontman Andrew Matheson. That band's song Sick On You was later covered by Duncan's old band The Boys on their first album and has been a mainstay of Duncan's set ever since he formed the Big Heads over ten years ago.
After many Big Heads tours in the UK, Europe, and as far away as South America, plus five studio and one live albums Duncan has decided it's finally time to retire from the music business. There are various reasons behind his decision - one of which was a surprising discovery he made about himself which changed the way he see's life. This is dealt with in some of the songs on the recently released, last, and probably best Big Heads album And It's Goodbye From Him. Duncan has taken the decision to bow out gracefully while he is still at the top of his game and still enjoying it rather than dragging things out for too long like some artists do. It's sad to see he is choosing to pack it in, but at least he is making the decision himself at a time of his own choosing - and I totally respect that.
There is quite an air of anticipation for tonight's sold out show at The Lexington. We know the band will be great, and we know the songs will be great too. Unlike my pictures.🙄 The venue was full and I just wanted to enjoy what I knew would be a special show and enjoy the moment instead of fannying about with my phone camera. 😕 Duncan and band hit the stage running and the energy level is high from the start. Mostly tonight we get the 'classic' later lineup of the band with Sophie Powers driving things along with her high power rhythm guitaring and Nick Hughes cranking out most the lead and solo stuff, plus Karen Jones pounding away on the drums, and of course Duncan on bass and lead vocals.
I was hoping Andrew Matheson might make an appearance, but Duncan told me later that he has been ill recently. Needless to say we still got a great version of 'Sick On You' though. As usual we also got Boys classics 'Soda Pressing' which this band always do a particularly great version of. And also from the Boys
first album the brilliant 'First Time'. Both those songs have featured in probably
every Big Heads show I have ever seen, but Duncan has no shortage of great original songs of his own - as heard on all five Big Heads albums. He obviously learned a lot about catchy tuneful songwriting from his time in The Boys - not for nothing were they known as 'The Beatles of Punk'.
The current Big Heads lineup is supplemented mid set by the addition of Heidi Cotton on guitar as she contributed to the final album. The atmosphere in The Lexington is terrific and the setlist packed with really great songs. Although I have all the band's albums I actually much prefer hearing the songs
live rather than on CD. As always Duncan Reid and the Big Heads deliver a strong and energetic performance of well crafted pop/punk numbers - there really is nothing not to like - apart from a tinge of sadness at knowing this probably really is the 'last time'. No more albums, and no more live shows. I ask Duncan afterwards if this really
is the end - or could there possibly be the odd live show in the future if he feels he is missing performing? He wouldn't be drawn - apart from to say something along the lines of 'never say
never', but he said it was unlikely. He seemed happy though, and content to draw a line at this point - so don't hold your breath... And he really did go out while still at the top of his game.
So I headed home a little sad at the thought of never seeing another
Duncan Reid and the Big Heads show, but I will always have great memories of the live shows, and I still have all the albums to listen to any time I want. 😀
I am cheered up slightly on the way hope by seeing some of these chaps scurrying about on the tube station platform - does the Victoria Line have more mice than other lines for some reason?
